Birth-acquired herpes

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Congenital herpes

HSV; Congenital herpes; Herpes - congenital

Herpes may only appear as a skin infection. Small, fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) may appear. These blisters rupture, crust over, and finally heal, often leaving a mild scar.

Herpes infection may also spread throughout the body (called disseminated herpes). In this type, the herpes virus can affect many different parts of the body.

• Herpes infection in the brain is called herpes encephalitis
• The liver, lungs, and kidneys may also be involved
• There may or may not be blisters on the skin

Newborn infants with herpes that has spread to the brain or other parts of the body are often very sick. Symptoms include:

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• Bleeding easily
• Breathing difficulties
  • Blue appearance (cyanosis)
  • Flaring of the nostrils
  • Grunting
  • Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
  • Short periods without breathing (apneic episodes)
• Coma
• Jaundice
• Lethargy
• Low body temperature (hypothermia)
• Poor feeding
• Seizures
• Shock
• Skin lesions, fluid-filled blisters

Herpes that is caught in the period shortly after birth has symptoms similar to those of birth-acquired herpes.

Intrauterine herpes can cause:

• Eye disease, such as inflammation of the retina (chorioretinitis)
• Severe brain damage
• Skin sores (lesions)

Tests for birth-acquired herpes include:

• DFA test for herpes (scraping from vesicle)
• EEG
• MRI of the head
• Spinal fluid culture
• Vesicle culture

Additional tests that may be done if the baby is very sick include:

• Blood gas analysis
• Coagulation studies (PT, PTT)
• Complete blood count
• Electrolyte measurements
• Tests of liver function

Review Date: 09/16/2010
Reviewed By: Sameer Patel, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).